Latest news with #TheBlackCats'
ITV News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Why Sunderland's Championship play-off final is kicking off at 3.01pm
Sunderland's Championship play-off final at Wembley this weekend will kick-off at 3.01pm, rather than the usual 3pm, to highlight the fact that 'Every Minute Matters'. This campaign aims to inspire supporters to learn CPR, equipping them with vital skills that could save someone's life. Meanwhile, this weekend's other play-offs in League One and League Two will also kick off a minute late. The campaign is being supported by the Red Sky Foundation, a heart health charity who have provided seven defibrillators around the Stadium of Light. The Sunderland based organisation has also provided defibrillators at Bramall Lane, the home of The Black Cats' opponents in the play-off final, Sheffield United. Sergio Petrucci, CEO of the Red Sky Foundation, said: "This will raise awareness of CPR across the country, not just to football fans, but to the general public as well. The reason why we're doing that is because every minute does count. "When it comes to CPR and somebody's having a medical emergency, the most important thing to do is to call 999, and begin hands-on CPR, start the compressions, and have that blood circulating around the body, most importantly to the brain." EFL Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Birch said: "The Sky Bet Play-Offs are a special moment in the football calendar and tens of thousands of supporters will be at Wembley Stadium across the weekend with millions more tuning in from home. "By kicking off all three Play-Off Finals one minute later, Every Minute Matters continues to harness the power and visibility of football to encourage even more people to learn CPR, which could ultimately help to save even more lives."
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sunderland's promotion windfall - How much is winning the play-offs worth?
THE Championship play-off final is often called 'the richest game in football', and Sunderland are set to rake in a huge amount if they are promoted to the Premier League. Sunderland play Sheffield United in the play-off final, which will kick off at 3.01pm on Saturday May 24 at Wembley. Promotion to the Premier League would make Sunderland one of the top 20 teams in the country and would revive the Wear-Tyne derby - on hiatus for several seasons after The Black Cats' relegation, but glimpsed briefly in last season's FA Cup. It would also open the club up to a rather healthy windfall, with hundreds of millions of pounds expected to fly into the coffers if the team are successful in the capital at the weekend. Premier League clubs share TV revenue money, with the newest deal being agreed for £6.7bn over four seasons. This means that clubs in the top flight are set to earn around £85m each season of the new deal. Estimates from the BBC suggest that this season's Championship play-off final is worth £220m after commercial revenue, TV rights, Wembley gate receipts, and potential future parachute payments are taken into account. It means that this season's final is worth more than any other has been in the past. Clubs in the Championship this season will earn around £11m each (except those who receive parachute payments). Sunderland go into the final knowing that they have beaten Sheffield United this season, but also that the Blades have beaten them too. Will Sunderland wear red and white in Championship play-off final? 31 pictures as dozens of tractors roll out across County Durham for annual outing 'Pocket size' Durham among Britain's happiest places to live (and this is why) Semi-final hero Dan Ballard said they weren't underdogs going into the final: "We've had two good games against them this year and I think those games will fill us with confidence. "They'll probably go in as slight favourites but that's not the feeling in our dressing room. "We're really excited and the way the last game went and nearly losing it, we feel extra privileged and realise the opportunity now because it was nearly taken away from us. We'll use that as extra fuel going into the game."
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sunderland boss urges fans to 'manage expectations'
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has urged fans to "manage expectations" for the remaining games of the Championship season. Some have voiced concern about the The Black Cats' recent results following a bore draw against Norwich City and a 1-0 defeat at home to Swansea City. "At this stage of the season we have to be really proud of the team," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle."I think it's a really good reminder because we have 76 points so far. "I think it shows that team did very well. It's a little bit of a strange period because we worked this season with a small group due to many injuries, for example, and now to be competitive in this part of the season we need fresh bodies."The Frenchman has stressed the importance of managing players' fitness in the run-up to the play-offs. "We need fresh heads so it's important to manage the squad, to rotate the players, to give opportunities for young players," he added. "I think they deserve it because they have worked well and they need support through this period. "At the same time for the others, we need to manage their bodies to avoid rushing the process for their recovery."Le Bris named Jobe Bellingham, Dan Ballard and Leo Hjelde as examples of players whose workload has needed to be managed recently but admitted that results and performances have suffered."The consequences are the results and probably the output, because the games we played, maybe the last two or three games, we were not as good as expected probably, but at the same time are still fourth. "The play-offs are secured and it's another stage of the season. I can understand the reaction because the fans and supporters always want to win and it's fair. No problem with that. "At the same time now, our main objective is clearly the two games in the play-offs and we have to be ready for these fixtures."When BBC Radio Newcastle's commentator Nick Barnes asked Le Bris if he would urge the fans to be patient, he said: "If it's possible. "If it's not possible they can be disappointed. No problem. I can respect that, but at the same time it's important maybe to step back to look around the full season and to understand that this stage is different. "We still have the youngest team in the league, made the fewest substitutions, and we are in a good place. So manage expectations."You can listen to more from Regis Le Bris on BBC Sounds.
